Committee Decisions

37 COM 7B.34

Bandiagara Cliffs (land of the Dogons) (Mali) (C/N 516)

2. Commends the State Party for its efforts in the protection and conservation of the property in the difficult context of armed conflict in the northern regions of Mali;

3. Expresses its concern about the problems arising from the crisis and linked to the shutdown of cultural tourism which is one of the most important sources of income for local communities, the decline of cultural identities due to the crisis, and the resurgence of the phenomenon of illicit trafficking and sale of cultural property;

4. Thanks the Director-General of UNESCO for her efforts to respond to Decisions 36 COM 7B.106 and 36 COM 7B.107, notably through the creation of a special account for the safeguarding of Malian cultural heritage and awareness-raising of the international community;

5. Also thanks France, Mali and UNESCO to have organized a day of solidarity for Mali during which an international meeting of experts was held and resulted in the adoption of an Action Plan for the rehabilitation of the cultural heritage and ancient manuscripts of Mali;

6. Further thanks the UNESCO experts group on Mali consisting of the Advisory Bodies (ICOMOS, ICCROM), the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), the School of African Heritage (EPA), the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) and the International Centre for Earthen Architecture (CRAterre-ENSAG) in Grenoble for having contributed to the development of the action plan in close collaboration with the Malian and French experts;

7. Appeals to States Parties to the World Heritage Convention , the African Union, the European Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), other African organizations and the entire international community to contribute to the implementation of the action plan for the rehabilitation of the cultural heritage and ancient manuscripts of Mali;

8. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014, a detailed report on the State of conservation of the Bandiagara Cliffs (Dogon Country). Property and especially on progress made in the preservation of their Outstanding Universal Value, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014.